Island



Jan. 2, 1923. 1,440,856 v. s. wEsTcoTT.

LABELING MAcHmE.

FILED MAR. 16, 1921 6 SHEETS-SHEET 2 v. s. wescor. LABEUNG MACHINE.

dwz, 1923.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3 FILED MAR. 16., 1921.

V. S. WESTCOTT LABEL l No MACHI NE FILED MAR. 16. 1921'.

Jan. 2, 1923.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4 @i Home@ 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5 Jan. 24, 1923.

V. S. WESTCOTT. LABCLING MAcmNE Fam-:D MAR. 16. 1921.

. ttomam Jan. 2, 1923. 1,440,356

V. S. WESTCOTT LABELING MAcHlNE. l FILED MAR4 le. 1921. 6 SHEETS-5.4551 6 Patented Jan. 2, 1923.

UNITED NSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

VALORUS S. WESTCOTT, OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, .ASSIGNOR TO J. &P. COATS (R. I.) INC., OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODEv ISLAND.

LABELING MACHINE.

Application led March 16, 19271. Serial No. 452,683.`

To all whom t may concern.' f

Be it known that I, VALonUs S. WEST- Co'r'r, a citizen of the United States, residing-at Pawtucket, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have in- -vented certain new and. useful ImprovementsI in LabelingMachines, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to an improvement in the construction of labeling machines, p and has for its object to provide a machine Aof this character which will automatically engage and carry a label and apply the same to the work. i A further object of the invention is the provision of a so-called suction head on the machine for engaging and lifting the label from a pile, the action of the head in engaging and releasing the label being controlle l by vacuum mechanism.

Theinvention further consists in the provision of a valve mechanism for controlling the Vacuum action upon the suction heads. i The invention still further consists in constructing and operating said suction heads in pairs, whereby the downward stroke of said heads causes one to engage a label on the pile while the other is applying and pressing its label to the work and ymeans being provided for reversing the positions and actions of said heads.

`The invention further consists in the provision of means for automatically feeding the labels to be engaged by the heads and yalso in providing mechanism for automatically feeding the work to which lthe labels are to be applied and also for removing the work after having been labeled.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be `more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. i.

ln the accompanying drawings:

Y Figurel is a plan view illustrating the relative arrangement of the label magazine, the work magazine and the revoluble suction heads for transferring a label vfrom its pile or magazine and applying .it to the werk; also for removing the suction heads.

Figure Q isa side elevation showing the suction heads, the label magazine and the work magazine.

.Figure 3 is a erspective view showing the under side of the upper valve plate with portions of its suction arms.

Figure l is a perspective view showing the valve seatmember and the arrangement yof ports by which the vacuum is controlled in its action upon the suction heads.

yFigure '5 is asectional view through the label suction heads, arms and valve; also showing one of the work suction heads in elevation and one in dotted line.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the suction heads, showing the openings in its working face.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the machine with the top or table partially broken away to better illustratel the driving mechanism.

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation on line 8-8 of Figure 7, through the table illustrating the driving mechanism.v

Figure 9 is an enlarged top view illustrating a portion of the suction arm as approaching the label magazine to effect afeeding operation of the elevator upon mov- 'ing into position to engage the top label of the pile.

Figure 10 is a section on line 10-10 looking in the direction of the arrow showing the label elevator and the mechanism for controlling the upward feed of the label pile.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the label elevating mechanism.

Figure 1Q is a side elevation showing the mechanism for operating the work pile elevator to feed the work or box blanks.

Figure 13 is an end elevation of the work elevator mechanism.

Figure 14 is a plan of a boX blank with a labelapplied thereto.

l/Vith reference to the dra-wings, 15 designates the table of the machine, which is preferably supported on corner legs 16 and provided with an opening 17 for the label magazine and an opening 18 for the work magazine.

In this particular case I have shown the work as being in the form of box blanks 19 to which the label is applied while in its knock-down or extended form before being folded, but it is obvious that the labels mayl be applied to any class of `work adapted to be handled by the machine.

Located between the label opening and the work opening in the table l have mounted a vertically-disposed rotatable shaft 20 to which is fixed a valve plate 2l designed to set into the vertically movable but nonrotatable valve seat member 22.

To this valve plate 21 I have connected a pair of oppositely extending hollow cross arms 23 to the outer ends of each of which is connected a suction head 24, which heads are provided with a perforated outer label engaging plate 25. @ne end of each of the channels 26 in these arms extends through the inner face of this valve plate 2l forming ports 27see Figures 3 and 5, which ports are arranged to communicate -with an elongated port 28 in the valve seat 22, whereby the action of the suction heads 24 is controlled so as to engage and lift a label from the pile at17, transfer it to the work 19, and then release it to be applied thereto all as hereinafter described.

In some instances it is found desirable to engage and lift the work from its pile and carryl it a predetermined distance and drop the same, to which end I have mounted a separate pair of hollow arms 29, in the outer end of each of which is mounted a suction head 30 similar to the head 24 which engages the label. The inner ends of these arms are provided with ports 31 which are adapted to alternately register with a slightly elongated port 32 in the valve seat 22 whereby the vacuum in the valve head 30 is caused to lift and carry the work a predetermined distance whereby when this port 31 is moved out of communication with the elongated port 32 the action of the vacuum upon the head is broken and the work is released thereby being permitted to fall into the inclined chute 33 in the table to be conducted away.

In order to impart the necessary motions to the lalfel applying devices and to the operations of the rest of the machine, I have mounted a main drive shaft 34 in bearings 35 beneath the table 15. On this shaft I have loosely mounted the main drive pulley 36 which receives its power from the belt 37 and in order to readily connect and disconnect this pulley to the shaft I have provided a clutch 38 which may be operated by the hand lever 39 to start and stop the machine when desired but any other suitable means may be employed for this purpose.

An intermittent rotating motion is imparted to the valve plate 21 and its arms and suction heads, from the main shaft 34, through the miter gears 40, short shaft 41, pair of intermittent drive gears 42 and upright shaft 20, and a lifting motion is imparted to both the valve seat, its plate and heads in unison, through action of the cam 43 which engages the roller 44 on the lower end of shaft 20, the return or downward motion of these parts being effected by gravity and the action of the tension springs 45, by which motions it will be seen that the two suction heads 24 may be caused toy drop, one to engage the topmost label 46 and the other to press against and apply its label to the work 19 on its pile 47,-and at the same time it will be noted that the port 27 leading to the label pile is open, producing a vacuum in the suction head to lift the label upon coming in contact therewith, while on the opposite side that port leading to the head that is applying the label has passed beyond the end of elongated port 28 thus closing olf the suction action on its head and so permitting the label carried by this head to adhere to the work upon being pressed and forced thereonto. After this operation of afhxing the label with one head and engaging a label from the pile with the opposite head, the cam 43 then raises the valve members with its arms and suction heads which latter are rotated through the action of the intermittent gears 42 causing the heads to change places, that is, reversing their positions and actions which operation is repeated intermittently or at close intervals during the operation of the machine.

In some instances I have found it advis able to attach the second pair of suction heads 30 to the valve mechanism above de scribed, which are adapted to move simultaneously with those acting upon the label, so that at the same time that the label is being aflixed to the work the port 31 of the arm 29 which is over the work has presented itself, as shown in Figure l, to the short port 32 in the valve seat, thus permitting the vacuum in the valve head to act through the suction head upon the work to lift the same when the arms are raised and so carry the topmost box blank or piece of work from its pile as shown in Figure l, one quarter of a revolution, in which position the port 3l. in

the arm has passed the end of the port 32 in the valve seat thus cutting off the effect of the vacuum upon the suction head permitting this box blank to drop into the chute 33 as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure l, from whence it is conducted away.l V

A partial vacuum is produced in the hollow portion 48 of the valve head by a suction pump (not shown) connected to the end of the flexible tube 49.

It will be noted that the valve seat member is permitted to move4 vertically but is held against rotation by the guide pin 50 which works vertically in the fixed tube 51.

In some cases I may use labels which have been previously gummed, in which case I employ a moistened roll 52 located in the path of travel of the label so that in passing from the pile to the work it engages this moistener to render its gummed surface adhesive when presented to the work, but I do not wish to be restricted to the use of labels which have been previously gummed as this roll instead of being wardly-extending lips 5 by spring 58 to normally engage opposite f edges of the uppermost label of the pile.

moistener may carry glue or cement to be applied to the face of the label as it passes thereover, if desired. I also in some cases provide a wiper pad 53` for engaging the surface ofthe label carrying suction heads in moving from the work to the label pile, so as to remove any moisture or foreign matter from their contacting surfaces' to prevent soiling or discoloring the exposed surface of the label.

In order to render this machine automatic. inv its actionI have provided an elevator `mechanism:` for the labels as best shown in Figuresl 9 and l0, whereby a pile of labels 46 may be placed upon the elevator platform 54 the same being adaptedfto be raised through action of the weightsv 55, the raising motion being controlled bythe rotating movement of the suction headcarrying arms 23; one` form -ofsuch mechanism being shown which isthat of an escapement mechanism 56 includin arms having in-V pressed inwardly Y The swin ing suction'head carrying arm 23 is provi ed with la release bar. 59 which engages `the 4escapement arms 56 causing Athem to'spread and sov release the top label of the pile and simultaneously move a detent pawl 60 inwardly to engage the ratchet '61 on the elevator platform to. prevent' the pile fromrising during thetime that it is disengaged by the lips 57. The suction head is now free to descend upon the pile and remove the uppermost label therefrom and after the head is again raised and` moved forward these arms 56 are permitted to againmove their lips inwardly over the label pile thus releasing the pawl from the ratchet 61, and under action `of the weights 55 the pilewill move upward into contact with the lips 57 thus maintaining the top of the pile at the proper working level.

`After one supply of labels has: been exhausted from the elevator the platform 54 `may be pressed downward and another supply placed therein by the attendant.'

In some cases itis also foundv desirable to provide an automatic feed for the work,

and when this work is in the form of paper boxes in flat form I also provide an elevator having a platform 62 on which the pile 47 is mounted.

y On the bottom of this platform I have fastened a rack 63 the teeth of which are engaged by a spur gear (63a) mounted on the shaft 64. On this shaft is also mounted a ratchet wheel 65 engaged by the pawl 66 which pawl is mounted on the arm 67 pivoted on the shaft 64. This arm 67 is rigidly connected to the `inwardly-extending arm 68, the outer end of which latter arm is connected to the vertically disposed rod 69,

vwhereby a vertical motion of the valve head elevator to feed the pile of work to be labeled.

A `detent pawl 70 is also in engagement .with the ratchet wheel 65 to prevent a backward movement of the same as the pawl 66 is reciprooated.

When itis desired to quickly lower the platform 62 for the reception of another batch ofbox blanks, it is only necessary to pull down on the rod 7l which, through the arm l74 andlever 75, which Ilatter engages pin 76 on pawl 66, lifts both the pawl 66 and the detent l70 from engagement with the ratchet wheel 65 then by a rotation of the hand wheel 72 on shaft 77, the shaft 64 isrotated `through the miter gears 73 toy cause the rack 63 and its elevatorplatform to be drawn downward into starting position.

By this construction the machine is made fully automatic requiring only the attention rof the attendant to lkeep the machine supplied with work blanks and labels as the magazines become exhausted.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appende-l claims.

I claim:

1. In a labeling machine, a rotatable carrier, having suction pick-up heads rigid therewith, a` suction chamber against rotation and positioned adjacent said carrier,y means whereby said suction heads may be placed in communication with said suction chamber in different positionsv of said head-s, and means for moving said heads axially with a reciprocating movement at intervals during the rotatingmovement of said carrier.

2. In a labeling machine, a rotatable carrier, having suction pick-up heads rigid therewith, a suction chamber mounted against rotation and positioned adjacent said carrier, means whereby said suction heads may be placed in communication with i Saidl suction chamber in different positions of said heads, said means including passages extending from said head to said chamber and an elongated port with whieh said passages communicate during a portion of the rotating movement of said carrier, and means for moving said carrier and chamber axially with a reciprocating movement at intervals during the rotation of said carrier.

3. In a labeling machine,` a suction chamber mounted against rotatable movement,- a

mounted K rotatable shaft ext-ending through thecham- Y at intervals during the rotation of the carrier.

4l. ln a. labeling machine, a' suction chamber mounted against rotatable movement, a rotatable shaft extendingthrough the chamber, a label carrier mounted on said shaft, to rotate therewith and positioned in juxtarelation with said chamber, suction heads on the carrier and rigid thereon, the surface of said chamber opposing said carrier having an elongated port therein, said carrierhaving passages therein communicating said heads with said portalternatively during the rotation of said carrier, said chamber having connection with said shaft to move longitudinally with the shaft, means for rotating said shaft, and means for intermittently shifting said shaft longitudinally whereby said chamber and carrier are raised and lowered.

5. In a labeling machine, a rotatable member having radiating arms, suction heads mounted on the end portions of the arms, supports arranged in the path of movement of said arms for holding piles of labels and articles on which the labels are to be placed, said supports being spaced apart along the path of movement of saidv arms, a suction chamber positioned in junta-relation with said rotatable member and mounted against rotatable movement, an elongated slot in said chamber extending for a distance in the rotation of said member substantially equal to the distance between said label support and said article support, passages in said member to connect each suction head with said port during the movement of said head from the label support to said article support, means whereby the labeled articles are removed from the pile by the suction through said heads and subsequently released from said heads before each head is brought in its rotation to the label support.

6. ln a labeling machine, a rotatable member having radiating arms, suction heads mounted on and rigid with the end portions of the arms, supports arranged in the path of movement of Asaid arms for holding` piles of labels and articles on which the labels are to be placed, said supports being spaced apart along the path of m vement of said arms, a

suction chamber positioned in juXta-relation with said rotatable member and mounted against rotatable movement, an elongated slot in said chamber extending for a distance in the rotation of said member substantially equal to the distance between said labelover said label support and said article support for purposes described.

7.111 a labeling machine, a rotatable shaft, -a suction chamber having said shaft extending therethrough,l saidv chamber being loose on Asaid shaft and resting on a .shoulder on the, shaft, a label carrier mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith and/positioned in juXtaLr'e-lation with said chamber, `an expansible rigid connectionbetween said-chamber and afstationary portion vof the machine, whereby the chamber is held against rotation, suction heads rigid with the carrier, an air connection between said chamber and heads, and means for intermittently shifting said shaft longitudinally at points inits rotation, whereby said chamber, carrier and heads are raised and lowered.

8. ln a labeling machine, a rotatable shaft, a suction vchamber havingsaid shaft Aextending therethrough, said chamber' being loose on saidshaft and resting on a shoulder on the shaft, a label carrier mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith and positioned in juXta-relation with said chamber an eirpansible rigid connection between said chamber and a stationary portion of the machine, whereby the chamber is held aga-inst rotation, suction. heads rigid with the carrier, an air connection be tweeny said chamber and heads, means for intermittently shifting said shaft longitudinally at points in its rotation, whereby said chamber, carrier and heads are raised and lowered, :and springs connecting said chamber with. a stationary portion of the machine and normally. under tension tov lower the chamber. f

9.111 labeling machine, a rotatable -member having `radiating arms, suction heads mounted on the. end portions of the arms, supports arranged in the path lof ifiaoae tween said. label support ,and said article.

support,:passages in ,said membeijto connect scribed, and an auxili eacli-ofsaid arms to ali nfwith the articles on said articleI support, f and ineans intoj which labeled articles are discharged, said chamber 'haringl a 4second Lelongated port` therein. extending` for a distance'in the rotation of said member f equal to the `distance.- between said article support and said `dis-v charge means, said fmemberlhaving `a passage therein to communicate said auxiliary headwith'said secondI port during the rotatinp,` movement of said member.

l0, A labeling machine comprising a pair of label carrying suction heads, means Jor causing one of said heads to engage and lift a label from a pile and simultaneously cause the other of said heads to deposit its label upon the work, means for automatically feeding` the label pile to said engaged head, means for intermittently reversing the positions and actions oi said heads. means whereby each suction head is caused to remove the labeled work jfrom its pile upon further movement oil said heads, and means for automatically advancing the work into position 'to be labeled after each work removing action of said heads.

ll. In a labeling machine, means for engaging and lifting a label from a pile, means for causing said lifting" means to carry and apply its label to the work, and means whereby said lifting means is caused to again operate to lift and remove the l worlr from the pile a'l'ter the label has been applied thereto.

l2. In a labeling machine, means for engaging and lifting a label from a pile, means for causing said lifting means to apply its label to the work, and other lifting means connected to and arranged to operate simultaneously with said, first lifting and applying means for engaging and removing the worlr after being labeled.

13, In a labeling machine, means for engagingl and lifting' a label from av pile, means for causing said lifting means to carry and apply its label to the work, means for removing;` the work-after the label has been applied thereto, and means operated by said applying means for feeding the work into labeling position alter each work removing action.

lll. In a labeling machine, means for sup porting a stack of labels in the machine comprising a movable base to support the stack of labels and normally urged to rise, a pair of spaced movable members on oppositesidesiol said base and normally urged inwardly to engage with the ltop `olE tlie stack, and a label j iiclrfup'means yto move between and contact with said members to separate the latter `whereby the latter are moved outof the path of the stack. p

l5. In a labeling machine, means for supprinting` a `'stack of labels in the machine comprising- `a movable base .to support the stackv of labels and normally urged to rise,

apair otspaced'movable members on opv posite sides of' said base` and normally urged in Tardlyto enr/'age with the top rofl1 the stack,I a label pick-up means to move be-` tween and contarty with said 'l 'xenibei's whereby the latter are separated and movedV outloie the pathV of the stack, and means 'for j automatically locking` said base against upward movement whenthe members. are moved out of the path of said stack.

16. In a labeling; machine, means for supporting, a staclr of labelsin the machine, said support comprising a pair of spaced pivoted members, a movable base positioned between the members and adapted to support the stack of labels, inwardly extending projections on said members to normally engage with. the top of the stack, means normally urging said base to rise, and means normally urging' said members toward each other, whereby the projections thereon are moved in the path of the stack, and a label pickup means to move between and separate said members, whereby said projections are moved out of the path of the stack.

1T. In a labeling.; machine, means 'for sun porting a stack of labels in the machine, said support comprising a pair of spaced members, a movable base positioned between the members and adapted to support the vstaclr of labels, inwardly extending projections on said members to normally engage with the top of the stack, means normally urging said base to rise, and means normally urging said members toward. each other, whereby the projections thereon are moved in the path of the stack, a label pick-up means to move between and separate said members, whereby said projections are moved out of the Y path of the stack, a raclr on said base, and a pawl on one of said members adapted to be moved into engagement with said rack by the separating` movement of said members, whereby the base is held against upward movement while the projections on the members are out of the path of the stack.

1S, In a labeling machine, a rotatable label carrier and applying device, label and work supports disposed along the path of travel of said carrier for supporting a stack of labels and articles to be labeled, means whereby said carrier is reciprocated in a direction relative to its rotating axis, when opposite said supports, said work support comprising a movable hase to be raised and G5v 1,440,555 I lowered, means operated from said carrier toA raise said base .,with. a step step movej ment upon the reciprocating movement yoff-- said'carrier in one direction.

19. In a labeling machine, the label carrier and applying device having a; reciprocating movement, a base orfsupporting a stack of articles to be labeled adapted to be raised and lowered, a shaft, a pinionon the ,l shaft, the rack bar connected to said'base and in engagement with said pinion, a ratchet wheel fast on said shaft, a pawl in operative engagement with said ratchet wheel, and a lever connection between Said pawl and said4 carrier, whereby said pawl is operated to move the ratchet wheel iny one direction upon a reciprocating movement of the carrier.

20. ln a labeling machine, the label carrier and applying device having*areciipro-r eating movement, a base for supporting a and' in engagement with said pinion, a ratchet whee1"i:"a`ston said shaft, a pawl in operative engagement with said ratchety wheel, 'alleve'r connection between vsaid pawl and said "carrier, whereby said pawl is operated vto movefthe ratchetwheel in one direction upon a 'reciprocating movement of the carrier", a latching detent in normal en- I gagement f withv said ratchet wheel, rmeans for releasing lsaidy detent and pawl for the v ratchet[wh/eel,r and manuallyl operable means for. actuating said-'Shaft to quickly adjustV said bae.

In testimony whereofvI aix my signature.

vALonUs s; wEeTcoTT. 

